Bicycle Chain Cleaner and Lubrication Apparatus

ABSTRACT

A bicycle sprocket chain cleaning and lubrication apparatus allows a sprocket chain ( 3 ) to be cleaned while still mounted on the bicycle. The apparatus includes a includes a housing ( 10 ) for enclosing the sprocket chain on all sides consisting of mutually connectable upper half-shell ( 11 ) and lower half-shell ( 12 ) portions and a securement assembly which includes a mounting plate adapted to attach to a rear wheel quick disconnect of the bicycle. The housing is suspended from the sprocket chain and provides a funnel shaped solvent hopper ( 17 ), a hose connection ( 21 ) to a compressed air supply, and an air knife ( 23 ) adapted to direct high velocity air to impinge upon and thereby dry the sprocket chain.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

This invention relates generally to devices for cleaning and lubricatingthe sprocket chain of a chain drive mechanism, and more particularly toa device that uses compressed air both to clean the chain and then toapply a thin coating of lubricant.

2. Background Art

The present invention is useful for cleaning and lubricating, in situ,the sprocket chain of a chain drive mechanism of the type found, forexample, in motorcycles and bicycles. For convenience, the inventionwill be described in the context of a bicycle chain drive.

In a bicycle, the chain drive is constituted by a continuous sprocketchain loop whose links at one end of the loop engage a sprocketassociated with the pedals of the bicycle and at the other end engage asprocket associated with the rear wheel. The arrangement is such thatwhen the pedals are operated to rotate the associated sprocket in theclockwise direction, this acts to advance the sprocket chain loop in thesame direction and to drive the rear wheel; but when the pedals areoperated to rotate the sprocket counterclockwise, the loop is advancedin the reverse direction and the rear wheel is then disengaged from itsassociated sprocket. Hence when an assembly in accordance with theinvention is used to treat the sprocket chain on a bicycle, one thenadvances the sprocket chain loop in the reverse direction so that therear wheel is not driven thereby.

The effort a rider must exert to operate a bicycle depends in good parton effective lubrication. If the wheel bearings and the chain drive areinadequately lubricated, the resultant friction not only makes it moredifficult for the rider to pedal the bicycle, but it also results inwear and possible overheating of the sliding metal components, givingrise to destructive metal fatigue. And since the sprocket chain which isexposed has a greasy surface, in the course of operation it tends topick up grit and dirt particles which adhere to the chain and introducefriction.

Conscientious bicycle owners are aware of the need to maintain thesprocket chain in a clean and well lubricated condition; but withexisting expedients for this purpose it is difficult to do so. Thus,before applying a lubricant to the chain, the usual practice is to wipeit clean with a rag to remove the grime therefrom. But since the chainloop is composed of a continuous series of links that are pivotallyinterconnected, it is difficult with a rag to thoroughly clean thechain. It is even more difficult with a conventional oil can having anozzle to apply lubricant to the entire chain so that all of its linksand their pivot pins are properly lubricated.

The prior art recognizes this problem and discloses various expedientswith a view to solving the problem. Thalmann (U.S. Pat. No. 4,593,923)discloses a reservoir which is so attached to the bicycle that as thesprocket chain advances, it passes through the reservoir which containsa solvent as well as brushes to clean the chain. Chiarelli (U.S. Pat.No. 4,578,120) provides a sprocket chain cleaner in which the reservoiris provided with rotary brushes which are turned by the sprocket chain,the reservoir containing either a solvent or a lubricant. The practicaldrawback to the Thalmann and Chiarelli schemes is that they both usebrushes to clean the chain and they both allow the chain being cleanedto emerge wet, thereby allowing dirty solvent to drip on surfaces nearthe bicycle.

Manning (U.S. Pat. No. 4,783,186) describes a sprocket chain cleanerthat uses twin brushes formed by strong flexible bristles, such as nylonbristles, capable of forcefully scrubbing the advancing sprocket chain.

Masonek (U.S. Pat. No. 5,213,180) is a lubricant applicator for a drivechain having a housing with interior flexible plastic bristles.

Pesl (U.S. Pat. No. 6,257,369) describes an apparatus for cleaning andlubricating drive chains, in particular motorcycle drive chains, thatincludes brushes which are attached in the housing to wipe off the drivechain.

Barbieri (U.S. Pat. No. 6,942,409) describes a bicycle chain cleanerfitted on a spray can of cleaning and lubricating solution that alsoincludes brushes with tufts of radial bristles adapted to penetratebetween links of the chain.

There is a long-felt need for an effective chain cleaning andlubrication device that does not rely on brushes and also dries thechain thoroughly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is to be understood that both the general and detailed descriptionsthat follow are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictiveof the invention.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

In view of the foregoing, the main object of this invention is toprovide a chain cleaning and lubricating device for, in situ, thesprocket chain of a chain drive mechanism.

Significant features of this invention are the lack of scrubbing brushesand the innovative use of compressed air to immediately dry the chainbefore it exits the cleaning canister and force cleaner under pressurefrom the airflow to remove dirt and grease.

A first object of the present invention is to provide a chain cleanerand lubrication apparatus for cleaning a sprocket chain where thesprocket chain remains operationally mounted on a vehicle. Thisapparatus includes a housing, rollers mounted within the housing tosuspend the housing from the sprocket chain, and an air knife thatdirects high velocity air to impinge upon the sprocket chain. Thehousing encloses the sprocket chain on all sides. The housing consistsof mutually connectable upper half-shell and lower half-shell portionswhich, when connected, define a chain passageway for allowing thesprocket chain to pass through. The upper half-shell portion includes afunnel shaped solvent hopper having a drainage opening adjacent thesprocket chain and the lower half-shell portion includes a fluidcollection region.

A second object of the present invention is to provide a bicycle chaincleaner for cleaning a sprocket chain while the sprocket chain remainsoperationally mounted on a bicycle. This bicycle chain cleaner includesa housing for enclosing the sprocket chain on all sides with a chainpassageway passing therethrough and a securement assembly restrainingthe housing from moving in response to chain motion. The housingconsists of mutually connectable upper half-shell and lower half-shellportions which are secured to one another using rubber bands. The chainpassageway has a rectangular cross section which substantially matchesthe cross section of the sprocket chain. The securement assemblyincludes a mounting plate attached to a rear wheel quick disconnect ofthe bicycle and a cable. The lower half-shell includes a fluidcollection region. The upper half-shell includes rollers that suspendthe housing from the sprocket chain, a funnel shaped solvent hopperhaving a drainage opening adjacent the sprocket chain, a cover adaptedto fit on the funnel shaped solvent hopper and cover the same, a tubularhose connection for allowing connection of a hose from a compressed airsupply, an air knife adapted to direct high velocity air to impinge uponthe sprocket chain, a siphon tube fluidly connected from the fluidcollection region to the funnel-shaped hopper region, a venturi adaptedto accept high velocity air and to thereby produce a vacuum within thesiphon tube, and an air tube communicating with said tubular hoseconnection and connected to the air knife and the venturi.

A third object of the present invention is to provide a method forcleaning a sprocket chain on a bicycle having a frame without removingthe sprocket chain from the bicycle. This method includes the steps of:placing a upper portion of a cleaning canister on the sprocket chain,engaging a lower portion of the cleaning canister to the upper portionof the cleaning canister, securing the upper portion and said lowerportions of the cleaning canister to one another, securing the cleaningcanister to the bicycle frame, and moving the sprocket chain through thecleaning canister while sequentially coating the sprocket chain withsolvent as it passes beneath a solvent hopper and drying the sprocketchain with high velocity air as it passes beneath at least one airknife. The upper portion of the cleaning canister includes internalrollers to engage the sprocket chain which thereby supports the upperportion of the cleaning canister. The engagement of the lower portion ofthe cleaning canister to the upper portion of the cleaning canisterforms the complete cleaning canister which includes a notched portion toallow the sprocket chain to pass through. The solvent hopper allowssolvent access to the sprocket chain.

Finally, a fourth object of the present invention is to provide a methodfor lubricating a sprocket chain on a bicycle having a frame withoutremoving the sprocket chain from the bicycle. This method includes thesteps of: placing a upper half-shell on the sprocket chain, engaging alower half-shell to the upper shell where this combined engagement formsthe complete canister, securing the upper half-shell to the lowerhalf-shell, securing the canister to the bicycle frame, and moving thesprocket chain through the canister while sequentially applyinglubricant to the sprocket chain and drying said sprocket with highvelocity air. The upper half-shell includes internal rollers to engagethe sprocket chain in order to support the upper half-shell. Thecomplete canister includes a notched portion to allow the sprocket chainto pass through the canister, an open portion to allow external accessto the sprocket chain, and at least one air knife that aims highvelocity air to impinge upon the sprocket chain as it passes beneath.

The present invention seeks to overcome or at least ameliorate one ormore of several problems, including cleaning and lubricating bicyclechains without dripping solvent or having to afterward clean brusheswithin a cleaning device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The accompanying figures further illustrate the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 illustrates a typical bicycle and shows a potential location forthe chain cleaner and lubrication device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 depicts certain internal features of the chain cleaner andlubrication device of FIG. 1.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS FOR THE MAJOR ELEMENTS IN THE DRAWING

The following is a list of the major elements in the drawings innumerical order.

-   1 bicycle-   3 sprocket chain-   5 quick disconnect-   6 securement assembly-   7 bracket (p/o securement assembly 6)-   8 restraining cable (p/o securement assembly 6)-   10 housing (cleaning canister)-   11 upper half-shell (portion of housing 10)-   12 lower half-shell (portion of housing 10)-   15 rubber bands-   16 chain passageway (through housing 10)-   17 funnel shaped solvent hopper (part of upper half-shell 11)-   21 air fitting-   22 air pipe-   23 air knife(s)-   24 venturi (provides vacuum for siphon tube 25)-   25 siphon tube-   26 rollers-   27 axle (of roller 26)-   30 fluid collection region-   31 solvent

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a bicycle chain cleaner that uses compressedair.

MODE(S) FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The preferred embodiment of the present invention is described herein inthe context of a sprocket chain mounted on a multi-speed bicycle, but isnot limited thereto, except as may be set forth expressly in theappended claims.

Refer first to FIG. 1, which shows a typical road bicycle 1 thatincludes a sprocket chain 3 and a rear wheel having a quick disconnect5. Shown attached to the quick disconnect 5 is a securement assembly 6which is designed to restrain the cleaning canister 10 form moving whenthe sprocket chain is moved. The securement assembly 6 consists of amounting plate 7 which is directly attached to the rear wheel disconnect5 and a cable 8 which is attached to the cleaning canister housing 10.More specifically, the restraining cable 8 is connected between thebracket 6 and the cleaning canister 10 and acts to restrain the cleaningcanister 10 from moving in a lateral direction when the sprocket chain 3is pulled therethrough.

The cleaning canister housing 10 is shown suspended from the sprocketchain 3. The housing 10 is formed from a combination of a mutuallyconnectable upper half-shell 11 and lower half-shell 12, which whenconnected, enclose the sprocket chain on all sides but includes a chainpassageway 16 for allowing the sprocket chain to pass through. In apreferred embodiment, the upper half-shell and lower half-shell portionsare secured to one another using rubber bands 15.

FIG. 2 illustrates additional details of the cleaning canister housing10. As shown, the chain passageway 16 has a rectangular cross sectionwhich substantially matches the cross section of the sprocket chain 3.

Two rollers 26, such as rollers fabricated from plastic are used tosuspend the cleaning canister housing 10 from the sprocket chain asshown in both FIGS. 1 and 2. Suitable plastic types include, but are notlimited to, acetal resin, nylon, polyethylene, perfluoroalkoxy,polyvinylidene fluoride and polypropylene. The rollers 26 are mounted onaxles 27, such as stainless steel rods, that are in turn supported bythe upper half-shell portion 11 of the cleaning canister 10.Advantageously, axles 27 can be allowed to slightly protrude from thesides of the cleaning canister 10 and thereby be used to secure rubberbands 15, as shown in FIG. 1.

The upper shell 11 includes a tubular hose connection 21 that isprovided for connection to a compressed air source, such as an aircompressor that might be found in a typical home workshop. The tubularhose connection 21 is internally connected to an air tube 22 which isfurther connected to one or more air knifes 23. In preferredembodiments, the air tube 22 is yet further connected to a venturi 24which provides a vacuum suction force to siphon tube 25.

The sprocket chain 3 is pulled through the chain passageway 16 ofcleaning canister 10 and thereby passes beneath funnel shaped solventhopper 17 and the air knifes 23. The funnel shaped solvent hopper 17 hasa drainage opening that is adjacent to the sprocket chain 3. Aftersolvent 31 passes through this drainage opening, it is captured in acollection region 30, which is part of the lower half-shell 12.

After the sprocket chain is pulled past the funnel shaped solvent hopper17, it then passes beneath air knifes 23 which are configured to directhigh velocity air to impinge upon the sprocket chain 3. Certainembodiments of the present invention include a single air knife 23,while other embodiments include multiple air knifes 23.

During operation, the solvent 31 is introduced to, and wets, thesprocket chain 3 as it passes beneath the funnel shaped solvent hopper17. Those skilled in the art will recognize that this is readilyaccomplished by pouring solvent into an open end of funnel shapedsolvent hopper 17. In a preferred embodiment, after a certain amount ofsolvent 31 is so introduced, a cover adapted to fit on the solvent hoperis closed and the vacuum in siphon tube 25 causes the solvent 31captured in collection region 30 to rise up through the siphon tube 25entering the airstream and back into the funnel-shaped solvent hopper17, and then reflowing onto the sprocket chain 3.

As the sprocket chain 3 passes beneath the air knifes 23, any excesssolvent that is still on the chain is blown off, and the chain exits dryfrom the notched portion 16. Those skilled in the art will appreciatethat a dry chain will not drip solvent on either the ground or otherobjects near where the chain is being cleaned. A first embodiment of thepresent invention uses one air knife 23, but the invention contemplatesdifferent embodiments that have multiple air knifes 23.

In addition to using the air knifes 23 to dry solvent 30 from thesprocket chain 3, the inventor has discovered that these air knifes areuseful in the task of lubricating chains.

It is known to those skilled in the art that a very thin coating of ahigh viscosity lubrication, such as lithium grease, is advantageous toefficient bicycle operation. When such lubricant is applied to thesprocket chain 3, prior to its entry into the cleaning canister housing10 and no solvent is used, the air knifes 23 effectively blow awayexcess lubricant resulting in the desired thin coating. This thincoating of lubricant is less susceptible to picking up dust and dirtthan a traditional thicker coating.

The use of the air knifes 23 to clear away excess lubricant minimizesthe build-up of grime during bicycle operation when using many types ofsprocket chain lubricants such as the hybrid lubricant disclosed byReick (U.S. Pat. No. 4,333,840) and Teflon.

Finally, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the presentinvention can be applied to many types of vehicles that use variouschain drives. For example, the present invention is particularlysuitable for cleaning and lubricating motorcycle sprocket chains.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

To solve the aforementioned problems, the present invention is a uniquesystem in which air knifes direct compressed air onto a bicycle chainimmediately after it has been exposed to solvent.

ALTERNATE EMBODIMENTS

Alternate embodiments may be devised without departing from the spiritor the scope of the invention. For example, the inventive device couldbe adapted to many types of sprocket chains including on motorcycles andother equipment.

1. An apparatus for at least one of cleaning and lubricating a sprocketchain while said sprocket chain remains operationally mounted on avehicle, said apparatus comprising: (a) a housing for enclosing thesprocket chain on all sides, said housing consisting of mutuallyconnectable upper half-shell and lower half-shell portions which, whenconnected, define a chain passageway for allowing the sprocket chain topass through; (b) a plurality of rollers mounted within the housing andadapted to suspend said housing from the sprocket chain; (c) at leastone air knife adapted to direct high velocity air to impinge upon thesprocket chain; (d) wherein the upper half-shell portion furthercomprises a funnel shaped solvent hopper having a drainage openingadjacent the sprocket chain; and (e) wherein the lower half-shellportion further comprises a fluid collection region.
 2. (canceled) 3.The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the upper half-shell and lowerhalf-shell portions are secured to one another using rubber bandsaffixed to axles that are associated with the rollers.
 4. The apparatusof claim 3, wherein said axles are fabricated from stainless steel. 5.The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said sprocket chain is the sprocketchain of a bicycle.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5 further comprising: (a)a securement assembly which includes a mounting plate adapted to attachto a rear wheel quick disconnect of the bicycle and a restraining cable;and (b) wherein said securement assembly is adapted to restrain thehousing from collinear movement in response to a movement of thesprocket chain passing through said housing.
 7. The apparatus of claim1, wherein said sprocket chain is the sprocket chain of a motorcycle. 8.The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: (a) a securement assembly,(i) said securement assembly connected at one end thereof to saidhousing, (ii) said securement assembly including means for readilyattaching and detaching a distal portion thereof to a stable member of avehicle, (iii) for securing said housing during use on said sprocketchain of the vehicle.
 9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the chainpassageway has a rectangular cross section which substantially matchesthe cross section of the sprocket chain.
 10. (canceled)
 11. (canceled)12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said housing is manufactured frommolded plastic.
 13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said plastic isselected from the group consisting of: acetal resin, polyethylene,perfluoroalkoxy, polypropylene, and polyvinylidene fluoride. 14.(canceled)
 15. A method for cleaning a sprocket chain on a bicyclehaving a frame without removing the sprocket chain from the bicycle,said method comprising the steps of: (a) placing a upper portion of acleaning canister, including internal rollers, on the sprocket chainsuch that the sprocket chain engages said rollers thereby supportingsaid upper portion of the cleaning canister; (b) engaging a lowerportion of the cleaning canister to the upper portion of the cleaningcanister where said engagement forms the complete cleaning canisterwhich further includes (i) a notched portion configured to allow thesprocket chain to pass through said cleaning canister, (ii) a solventhopper configured to solvent access to said sprocket chain, and (iii) atleast one air knife configured to aim high velocity air to impinge uponsaid sprocket chain; (c) securing said upper portion and said lowerportions of the cleaning canister to one another; (d) securing thecleaning canister to the bicycle frame; (e) moving the sprocket chainthrough the cleaning canister while sequentially (i) coating saidsprocket chain with solvent as it passes beneath the solvent hopper, and(ii) drying said sprocket chain with high velocity air as it passesbeneath the a least one air knife.
 16. The method of claim 15, whereinthe step of securing the upper portion of the cleaning canister to thelower portion of the cleaning canister is accomplished using rubberbands.
 17. A method for lubricating a sprocket chain on a bicycle havinga frame without removing the sprocket chain from the bicycle, saidmethod comprising the steps of: (a) placing a upper half-shell,including internal rollers, on the sprocket chain such that the sprocketchain engages said rollers thereby supporting said upper half-shell; (b)engaging a lower half-shell to the upper shell where said engagementforms the complete canister which further includes (i) a notched portionconfigured to allow the sprocket chain to pass through said canister,(ii) an open portion configured to allow external access to saidsprocket chain, and (iii) at least one air knife configured to aim highvelocity air to impinge upon said sprocket chain; (c) securing saidupper half-shell and said lower half-shell to one another; (d) securingthe canister to the bicycle frame; (e) moving the sprocket chain throughthe canister while sequentially (i) applying lubricant to the sprocketchain as it passes beneath the open portion, and (ii) drying saidsprocket with high velocity air as it passes beneath the a least one airknife.
 18. The method of claim 17, wherein said lubricant is lithiumgrease.
 19. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: (a) a tubularhose connection on a surface of the upper half-shell for allowingconnection of a hose from a compressed air supply.
 20. The apparatus ofclaim 19 further comprising: (b) an air tube communicating with saidtubular hose connection and connected to the at least one air knife. 21.The apparatus of claim 20 further comprising: (c) a venturi adapted toaccept high velocity air from the air tube.
 22. The apparatus of claim 1further comprising: (a) a cover adapted to fit on the solvent hopper andcover the same.
 23. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: (a) asiphon tube fluidly connected to accept solvent from the fluidcollection region and to discharge said solvent into the funnel-shapedhopper region.
 24. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said apparatus isadapted for at least one of cleaning and lubricating said sprocket chainwithout a brush.